Starter for small gasoline engines



March 12, 1963 w. A. HUNT 3,030,942

STARTER FOR SMALL GASOLINE ENGINES Filed Dec. 19, 1960 INVENTOR WILLIAMA. HUNT {Ma/w ATTORNEYS United States Patent l 3,080,942 STARTER FORSMALL GASOLINE ENGINES William A. Hunt, RD. 2, Horn Lake, Miss. FiledDec. 19, 1960, Ser. No. 76,760 3 Claims. (Cl. 185-39) This inventionrelates to a separate, portable and easily operated starter for smallgasoline engines of the outboard type, similar to those used on smallboats, power lawnmowers and saws and similar equipment.

The starting device is designed to be used with conventional smallmotors of the two or four cycle exposed flywheel type in which theflywheel is horizontally disposed at the top of the motor at the upperend of the drive shaft and is provided with a starting rope which iswound about the grooved periphery of the flywheel :and is pulled torotate the flywheel and start the motor.

It is usually difficult for children and persons of advanced years toexert sufficient of a pull on the starter rope of motors of this type toturn the motor over. The present starter is designed to enable personsof inferior strength readily to spin the flywheel of such a motor toinitiate starting thereof.

The device comprises broadly an elongate, troughshaped housing acrossthe rear extremity of which is fitted a bolt or other supporting meansfor a heavy elastic band which in repose extends to about two-thirds ofthe length of the housing. At its forward, opposite extremity thehousing is provided with a rotatable shaft or axle provided at one ofits lateral extremities with a toothed ratchet wheel engaged at itsperiphery by the end of a pivoted pawl lever which acts to lock theratchet wheel against counter-clockwise rotation. Wound upon thisrotating axle is a cable which at its inner extremity is afiixed to ashackle clamped over the extremity of the elastic band means. Dependingfrom the shackle at the extremity of the elastic band is a freelyswinging hook means designed to receive the looped and knotted extremityof a starter rope. A readily disengaged elongate crank is providedfitting over the outer extremity of the rotating laxle, outwardly of theratchet, to impart clockwise rotation to the axle to take up the cablethereon and to extend the elastic starter band to the desired degreewhen the axle is rotated thereby in a clockwise direction.

A removable cover provided with a handle is fitted over a considerableportion of the top of the housing, the cover being bolted or otherwiseremovably afiixed thereto.

In operation, the axle at the forward extremity of the housing isrotated in a clockwise direction by the crank means until the elasticband is extended to the desired degree, the ratchet and pawl maintainingthe elastic band thus in extended condition under considerable tension.The crank is then removed from the extremity of the axle and the loop atthe end of the starter rope is aflixed over,

the hook depending from the shackle at the end of the elastic band. Theforward end of the starter housing is then braced against the body ofthe motor adjacent its upper extremity, as shown in FIG. 1 of thedrawings, and the operator then pushes the actuating knob at the innerextremity of the pivoted pawl lever downwardly, releasing the ratchetwheel and axle and allowing the tensioned elastic band to contractsuddenly, thus exerting a powerful pulling force against the starterrope, to spin the flywheel and start the motor.

It is therefore a primary object of this invention to It is a furtherobject of this invention to evolve such a starter structure which may bereadily used by persons of inferior strength.

Other and further objects of this invention will become apparent as thisspecification proceeds.

Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 is a side view of the starter inoperating position to start an outboard motor mounted on the stern of asmall craft;

FIG. 2. is a top plan view, partially broken away and 0 in phantom, ofthe starter structure with the elastic band member in extended andlocked condition;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary cross-sectional view of the starter,partially in phantom, taken on line 33 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective view of the axleextremity of the starter, partially in phantom, with the elastic memberin fully extended and locked condition and the starter rope for themotor :aflixed to the hook thereof.

In the drawings, like numerals designating like parts throughout, 5indicates the housing for the starter structure, which as shown ispreferably in the shape of an elongate, rectangular trough memberprovided with a heavy bottom panel 6 and side walls 7 and 8rectangularly disposed thereto and extending upwardly therefrom inparallel relation to each other. A removable cover memher 9 is providedfitting over the upper edges of side walls 7 and 8, extending a majorportion of the length of housing 5 and terminating an appreciabledistance inwardly of the operating axle extremity thereof. Cover *9 ispreferably raiiixed over the upper portion of housing 5 by means of aseries of spaced screws 10 which maintain it in position on side walls 7and 8. Cover 9 is preferably provided adjacent its rear extremity with avertically disposed handle means 11 for the grasp of the operator whenthe starter is in use. Handle 11 is preferably arcuately shaped and isaflixed to the upper surface of cover 9 as by screws or any otherappropriate means.

As shown in FIGS. 3 :and 4, the forward extremity of the upper surfaceof lower panel '6 of housing 5 is preferably reduced downwardly at .12rfor a purpose to be dis- I cussed in more detail.

Aflixed through side walls 7 and 8 at the rear extremity of housing 5 isa supporting bolt 13- which is passed through appropriate bores in sidewalls 7 and 8 and is provided at one end with a head 14 and at itsopposite, screwthreaded end with a retaining nut 15. As shown, bolt 13is preferably horizontally disposed through the center line of sidewalls 7 and -8.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a heavy, multi-ply elastic band member 16 ispreferably doubled over retaining bolt 13 and extends inwardly inhousing 5 some twothirds of the length of housing 5 on its median line.Elastic band 16 isv preferably composed of two paired strands (fourthicknesses) of x 2 rubber and should be capable, when fully extended inhousing 5, of exerting a pull of approximately 200' pounds.

At its forward end elastic member 16 is provided with a terminal clamp17 which is preferably composed of paired upper plates 18 and pairedlower plates 19 bored at their ends to receive retaining bolts 20 and 21provided with screw threaded upper extremities over which nuts 22 and 23are applied to compress paired plates 18 and 19 inwardly over the upperand lower extremities of the paired strands of band 16 to maintain clamp17 positively in tightly clamped condition thereover.

A U-shaped shackle 24 is preferably clamped at its rear extremitiesbetween the inner of paired plates 18 and 19. Hasp 24 extends outwardlytherefrom beyond the forward clamped ends of elastic band 16. Hasp 24 ispreferably formed of steel and is provided at its rear extremities withscrew threads and end nuts, as shown,

Patented Mar. 12, 1963.

to prevent its rear extremities from pulling forwardly between innerplates 18 and 19.

Rotatably mounted across the forward extremity of housing 5, throughwalls 7 and 8 thereof, by means of cylindrical bearings 26 and 27afiixed to the inner surfaces of walls 7 and 8, is a rotatable axle 25.Axle 25, as shown, preferably extends outwardly through bores in walls 7and 8 and is provided at one extremity with a head 28 disposed outwardlyof wall 8, the inner surface of head 28 bearing rotatably against theouter surface of wall 8. At its opposite extremity, outwardly of wall 7,axle 25 is provided with a ratchet wheel 29, rotatably bearing againstwall 7 and provided about its periphery with a series of rectangularlyshouldered teeth 30. As shown, ratchet wheel 29 is preferably providedat its center with a cylindrical hub 31 closely fitting over axle 25 andrigidly aflixed thereto as by means of set screw 32 which maintains itrigidly in position on axle 25. The extremity of axle 25, outwardly ofratchet wheel 29, is preferably flattened at 33 for registration withslot 34 in rectangular head 35 of crank member 36. As shown in FIG. 4,crank 36 preferably comprises flattened, rectangularly disposed headmember 35 provided at its center with a rectangular slot 34 to registerwith flattened extremity 33 of axle 25. The shank of crank 36 is ofconsiderable length, for proper leverage, as shown in FIG. 2. It issoldered or otherwise affixed to rectangular head 35 and provided at itsouter end with a rectangular grasp for the hand of the operator. As willbe seen, crank 36 is so designed as to be easily applied over andremoved from the flattened extremity 33 of axle 25.

Pawl lever 37 is shown pivotally mounted on the outer surface of sidewall 7 adjacent ratchet wheel 29 by means of pivot bolt 38. It will benoted that pivot bolt 38 is positioned in close proximity to ratchetwheel 29 whereby substantially three-fourths of the length of pawl lever37 extends rearwardly of pivot 38, for leverage. At its inner extremitypawl lever 37 is provided with outwardly turned actuating segment 39 forthe grasp of the operator. At its forward end pawl lever 37 isrectangularly cut at 40 for close registration with the rectangular rearfaces of pawl teeth 30.

Pawl lever 37 is of extended length between pivot bolt 38 and grasp 39to provide the necessary mechanical advantage for the operator to enablehim readily to disengage shoulder 40 thereof from the rectangular rearface of ratchet tooth 30. Pawl spring 41 is preferably mounted on sidewall 7 of the housing beneath pawl lever 37 by means of screw 42. Spring41 at its upper, curved surface bears upwardly against the lower surfaceof pawl lever 37, between pivot 38 and grasp 39, to place pawl lever 37under spring tension to maintain its extremity 40 in engagement with theouter periphery of ratchet wheel 29 when axle 25 is rotated in aclockwise direction by crank 36. Spring 41 also maintains shoulder 40 ofpawl lever 37 in close engagement with the rectangular face of ratchettooth 30 when ratchet wheel 29 is at rest.

Actuating cable 43 is shown aifixed as by knotting or other means to thecenter portion of axle 25 and windable thereupon by clockwise rotationof axle 25 through crank 36. At its inner extremity actuating cable 43is tied or otherwise afiixed about the bend of shackle 24 at its centerpoint 44 whereby shackle 24 may be drawn toward axle 25 by clockwiserotation of axle 25, thus extending elastic member 16 toward axle 25.

Depending downwardly from shackle 24 and aflixed thereto as by cablesection 46 is connecting hook 45 dessigned to receive the looped end ofa starting rope R for a small gasoline engine M. As shown, auxiliarycable 46 may be an integral end of actuating cable 43, dependingdownwardly from the forward extremity of shackle 24. Cable 43 should beof considerable strength, able to withstand a straight pull in excess of200 pounds. It may be formed of heavy braided nylon, flexible wire cableor any other appropriate material.

Referring specifically to elongate housing 5 for the starter, it may beformed of hardwood or of aluminum or of any other material exhibitingthe necessary properties of strength and lightness. While the housingshown is of rectangular configuration, it may be of any trough-shapedconfiguration, as for example of cylindrical or semi-cylindrical form.

The manner of operating the starter is as follows:

When it is desired to apply a starting pull to the flywheel F of a motorM the operator first applies the slotted extremity 34 of crank 36 overthe flattened extremity 33 of axle 25 and then turns crank 36 in aclockwise direction, taking up cable 43 on axle 25 until elastic member16 has been extended to a point adjacent the open for- Ward extremity ofhousing 5, with hook 45 readily accessible. When fully extended, elasticmember 16 should be capable of exerting a pulling force of up to 200pounds. With the elastic member 16 fully extended and locked in fullyextended condition by means of ratchet wheel 29 and pawl lever 37 theoperator then winds the starter rope R about the flywheel F of the motorM, leaving a terminal length thereof free. The extremity of the starterrope, which is provided with a terminal loop, is then applied over hook45, or tied thereto, in such fashion as to firmly engage hook 45. Thereshould be no slack in starter rope R between the flywheel P of the motorand hook 45 of the starter. The forward extremity of housing 5 is thenbraced against the inner surface of the motor frame, as shown in FIG. 1,the operator maintaining the starter structure in horizontal position bymeans of handle 11. The operator then reaches forwardly and forces therear end of pivoted pawl lever 37 downwardly by means of grasp 39. Aslever 37 turns on pivot 38 rectangular extremity 40 thereof is forcedupwardly, out of engagement with ratchet tooth 30, freeing ratchet wheel29 and axle 25 and allowing resilient member 16 to contract with greatforce. This sudden contraction of resilient member 16, permitted by thefree rotation of axle 25, exerts a powerful initial pull against thestarter rope R, which is pulled within housing 5, under cover 9 thereofand exerts an extremely powerful pulling force against the flywheel F ofthe motor, which force is prolonged through the entire length of thewindings of the starter rope R about the flywheel F. Before the startermechanism is utilized the ignition circuit of the motor should be closedand the motor appropriately choked, if necessary.

Should the initial spinning of the flywheel by the starter fail toresult in the starting of the motor, the starter rope is retrieved fromthe interior of housing 5, its extremity is freed from hook 45 and thestarter rope is rewound about the flywheel of the motor. The starter isagain reset by clockwise rotation of axle 25 by crank 36, extendingresilient member 16 to the desired degree. The extremity of the starterrope is again aflixed over hook 45 and the operation is repeated, asabove.

It will be noted that the starter rope is preferably inserted into theforward extremity of housing 5 under axle 25, the downwardly reducedportion 12 of bottom section 6 thereof permitting easy access to hook 45by the operator and preventing possible entanglement of the starter ropeduring the contraction of elastic band 16.

Referring specifically to the embodiment of the invention disclosed inthe drawings, housing 5 is preferably on the order of 48 inches inlength by 4 inches in height and 6 inches in width. The elastic member16 is preferably on the order of 33 inches in length, untensioned, andis composed of at least four thicknesses of A5" x 2. heavy resilientrubber.

Other resilient means may be substituted for elastic member 16, with thesole requirement that such means be capable, under extension, ofexerting a pull of up to 200 pounds. Thus, a steel coil spring could besubstituted for elastic member 16 or resilient compressible means couldbe utilized.

Where the starter is to be used for the starting of very small two cycleengines of less than three horsepower, the over-all dimensions and theamount of pull exerted may be reduced to fit the immediate requirements.

It will also be noted that as the extremity of cable 43 is permanentlyaffixed to axle 25 the starting device may be readily reset merely byapplying crank 36 to the extremity of axle 25 and rotating crank 36 in aclockwise direction until the appropriate tension on resilient member 16is attained.

Numerous modifications may be made in the structure without departingfrom the spirit of the invention.

Throughout, equivalents may be substituted for all elements of thecombination within the spirit of the invention.

This specification is by way of illustration of one embodiment of theinvention only.

Attention is directed to the appended claims for a limitation of itsscope.

What is claimed is:

1. In a starter for gasoline motors having an exposed flywheel actuatedby a pull rope, an elongate housing, a powerful elastic member affixedat one extremity of i said housing and extending longitudinally therein,a hook affixed to the extremity of said elastic member, an axlerotatably mounted across the opposite extremity of said housing, a crankremovably engaging said axle, a cable atfixed to and windable upon saidaxle aflixed at its inner end to the end of said elastic member, aratchet wheel mounted on said axle outwardly of said housing, a pawllever pivotally mounted adjacent said ratchet wheel on said housingengaging said ratchet wheel at its extremity whereby clockwise rotationof said axle will wind said cable on said axle, extending said elasticmember to provide a starting pull to a motor rope attached to said hookwhen said ratchet wheel is released by said pawl lever.

2. In a starter for small gasoline motors of the type having an exposedflywheel actuated by a pull rope, an elongate, trough-shaped housing, astrong resilient member afiixed at one of its extremities in oneextremity of said housing and extending about two thirds of the lengthof said housing, a cover for said housing, an axle rotatably mountedacross the opposite end of said housing, crank means mountable on oneextremity of said axle, a ratchet wheel mounted on said axle outwardlyof said housing, a pawl lever pivotally mounted on said housing adjacentsaid ratchet wheel and engaging said ratchet wheel at its extremity,spring means on said housing engaging said pawl lever and maintainingits end in engagement with said ratchet wheel, a cable aflixed at oneend to said axle and windable thereon affixed at its opposite end to theinner end of said resilient member, a hook depending from the innerextremity of said resilient member whereby when said resilient memberhas been extended in said housing by winding said cable on said axle anda starter rope has been attached to said hook, starting rotation may begiven to a motor flywheel by forcing said pawl lever out of engagementwith said ratchet wheel to release said axle and said extended resilientmember.

3. In a starter for motors of the outboard type having an exposedflywheel actuated by a pull rope, an elongate trough-like housing, apowerful resilient member permanently affixed at one extremity in oneend of said housing and extending in unstressed condition substantiallytwo thirds of the length of said housing, an axle rotatably mountedacross the opposite extremity of said housing, a ratchet wheel mountedon said axle outwardly of said housing, a pawl lever pivotally mountedon said housing adjacent said ratchet wheel and registering therewith atits extremity, a cable affixed to said axle and windable thereonafi'ixed at its inner extremity to the inner extremity of said resilientmember, hook means affixed to the inner extremity of said resilientmember whereby said resilient member may be extended under tensionwithin said housing by winding said cable on said axle and startingrotation may be imparted to the flywheel of a motor by attaching itsstarter rope to said hook and releasing said ratchet wheel bydisengaging said pawl lever therefrom.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

1. IN A STARTER FOR GASOLINE MOTORS HAVING AN EXPOSED FLYWHEEL ACTUATEDBY A PULL ROPE, AN ELONGATE HOUSING, A POWERFUL ELASTIC MEMBER AFFIXEDAT ONE EXTREMITY OF SAID HOUSING AND EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY THEREIN, AHOOK AFFIXED TO THE EXTREMITY OF SAID ELASTIC MEMBER, AN AXLE ROTATABLYMOUNTED ACROSS THE OPPOSITE EXTREMITY OF SAID HOUSING, A CRANK REMOVABLYENGAGING SAID AXLE, A CABLE AFFIXED TO AND WINDABLE UPON SAID AXLEAFFIXED AT ITS INNER END TO THE END OF SAID ELASTIC MEMBER, A RATCHETWHEEL MOUNTED ON SAID AXLE OUTWARDLY OF SAID HOUSING, A PAWL